Exposing pro-Israel bias, propaganda, disinformation and spin in Australia's mainstream media. Monitoring pro-Israel influence in Australia's public and political arena.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Lyons Contradicts Van Onselen at The Australian

Peter Van Onselen, The Australian's rambammed contributing editor writing on Robert Manne's Quarterly Essay critique of his paper in last Saturday's edition:

"Manne's conspiracy that at The Australian the tail wags the dog - editorial policy shaping news gathering - is overstated." (Manne allows ideology to cloud his judgments)

John Lyons, The Australian's Middle East correspondent, toes the paper's pro-Israel editorial line while 'reporting' Abbas' and Netanyahu's recent UN speeches in the same edition:

"Since the barbaric Palestinian campaign of killing civilians in the second intifada... only 8 years ago, Israelis distrust Palestinians." (Netanyahu, Abbas hail wins but victories Pyrrhic at best)

"'I come before you today from the Holy Land, the land of Palestine, the land of divine messages, ascension of the prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) and the birthplace of Jesus (peace be upon him), to speak on behalf of the Palestinian people'. To an Israeli audience, this was devastating. Obviously Jews, Christians and Muslims all have a historical connection to parts of Israel and the West Bank, but to try to expunge the Jewish connection as if they had no claim was provocative and self-defeating." (ibid)